FISH FOR DEMENTIA

New research suggests that oily fish can
benefit dementia and delay its onset. Also called
senility, dementia is a word for a group of
symptoms caused by disorders that affect the
brain.

It is not a specific disease. People
with dementia may not be able to think well enough
to do normal activities, such as getting dressed
or eating.

They may lose their ability to solve
problems or control their emotions. Their
personalities may change. They may become agitated
or see things that are not there. Memory loss is a
common symptom of dementia. However, memory loss
by itself does not mean you have dementia. People
with dementia have serious problems with two or
more brain functions, such as memory and language.

Many different diseases can cause
dementia, including Alzheimer's
disease and
stroke. Drugs are available to
treat some of these diseases. While these drugs
cannot cure dementia or repair brain damage, they
may improve symptoms or slow down the disease.

Eating oily fish could play a role in
preventing the onset of dementia, research
reveals. A study of nearly 15,000 people over the
age of 65 across China, India, Cuba, the Dominican
Republic, Venezuela, Mexico and Peru saw
researchers assess dietary habits and diagnose
dementia through validated culturally and
educationally-fair
criteria.

Published in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, the results showed that in
each country except India, there was an inverse
association between fish consumption and dementia
prevalence.

Earlier this month, research from the
Wake Forest University School of Medicine stated
that moderate alcohol intake can help prevent
dementia.

Its study of more than 3,000 people over
75 revealed that those who had no cognitive
impairment at the start of the study and drank
eight to 14 alcoholic beverages a week had an
average 37 per cent reduction in risk of
developing dementia, compared to those who did not
touch a drop.